Ex-India Star Says ‘I Am Not Insulting Pakistan Cricket’ While Picking Favourites In PAK Vs CAN Clash

New York: Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu weighed in on Canada to upset Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 encounter on Tuesday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Pakistan, with two losses in as many matches, are on the verge of elimination from the group stage and a slip-up against the Canadians will confirm their exit from the tournament. India and USA, with two wins each, are sitting on top of Group A.

Pakistan started the tournament with a humiliating Super Over loss against co-hosts USA before slumping to another embarrassing six-run defeat against arch-rivals India. On the other hand, Canada were outclassed by USA in the tournament opener despite putting 190-plus on board before beating Ireland to stake a claim at qualification for the Super 8 stage.

Rayudu, who turned cricket pundit post-retirement, felt Canada can upset Pakistan considering the Men in Green’s form in the ongoing tournament. While their bowling looked okay, none of the Pakistan batters baring Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Babar Azam, looked to be in sorts.

“Definitely Canada, the way they (Pakistan) are playing, anyone will beat them. I am not insulting Pakistan cricket. However, the way they are playing currently, any team will come out on top against them,” Rayudu told Star Sports when he was asked to pick a favourite from the PAK vs CAN fixture.

Rayudu was very critical while analyzing Pakistan’s approach in the tournament. “Of course, I feel they have very little clarity in batting. They are neither playing attacking cricket nor do they have a balanced approach. They are just panicking. They are just searching for fours, sixes and singles.

“They are searching for everything. No batter is confidently able to stand there and say that if he plays 10 balls, he would hit one or two fours, or take two singles or two doubles. They don’t have a game plan at all,” said Rayudu.

For the unknown, neither Pakistan nor Canada have played each other before. As things stand, Pakistan need to win their remaining games with big margins to boost their net run rate and pray USA lose their remaining games to stand a chance for Super 8 qualification.